CQ229 - 11 from Councillor Gerry Ryan

CYPL

Does the Cabinet Member have any plans to build a Secondary school in the North of the Borough?

The possible establishment of a new school in the North of the Borough was included in part of the Council’s draft secondary education strategy in October 2010. This strategy and its implications for place planning is currently being revisited by officers in the light of emerging education policy and a better understanding of the available level of capital. A paper setting out the next steps in terms of the education estates strategy will come to Cabinet in July.

CQ252 - 11 from Councillor Bernadette Khan

CYPL

How many children were permanently excluded from each of the Croydon Secondary schools? In the last year to 31 March 2011? Is the cabinet member concerned about any school with a high exclusion rate?

School type School Permanent Academy Harris Academy Crystal Palace 2 Academy Harris Academy South Norwood 7 Academy Oasis Academy - Coulsdon 1 Academy The Quest Academy - Coloma Trust 12 Secondary Addington High School 5 Secondary Archbishop Tennison's CofE High School 0 Secondary Edenham High School 4 Secondary Norbury Manor Business & Enterprise College for Girls 1 Secondary Norbury Manor Primary School 0 Secondary Oasis Academy Shirley Park 1 Secondary Riddlesdown Collegiate 4 Secondary Shirley High School Performing Arts College 1 Secondary St Andrew's CofE Voluntary Aided High School 1 Secondary St Joseph's College 1 Secondary St Mary's High School 2 Secondary Thomas More Catholic School 2 Secondary Virgo Fidelis Convent Senior School 0 Secondary Westwood Girls College for Languages and Arts 1 Secondary Woodcote High School 2 Total 47

• The table shows the secondary schools that excluded pupils this last academic year (2010/11) up to the end of March 2011. This is a total of 47 permanent exclusions. • Some exclusions are contested by parents and may result in pupils being reinstated in school by the governing body. • The Coloma Trust - Quest Academy, a new Academy established in September 2010, has the highest number of permanent exclusions this year. Officers have met with the head teacher over concerns about the rate of exclusions, which accelerated in the Spring term, and a follow up visit has been agreed to identify how to support the school in reducing the exclusion rate. • Harris Academy South Norwood has had a high rate of exclusions over the last three years. A visit is scheduled to discuss concerns about the continuing trend with the head teacher.

CQ253 - 11 from Councillor Carole Bonner

CYPL

Will the Cabinet Member please explain why schools across the Borough are being misled over changes to contract terms for non-teaching staff, arrangements for school meal contracts and changes to the amounts deducted from their funding without giving prior notification? As an example, Heads and Chairs of Governors were told that they would be able to opt out of the changes to non-teaching staff contracts but when the staff were informed of the arrangements it was clear this was not the case. Will he acknowledge that at a time of changes and cuts that our schools should be able to rely on information they have been given and have confidence that their funding is not going to be changed without prior notification?

The Council signed the Employment Based Cost Review (EBCR) collective agreement with the trade unions on 18 January 2011, a copy of which was sent to all Heads and Chairs of Governors on 9 February. The collective agreement applies to all non-teaching employees in community schools as they are on National Joint Council (NJC) terms and conditions.

The Council has been clear with the schools affected that all of the terms and conditions included in the agreement are in affect a diminishment of those terms and conditions. The agreement to pursue a reduction in terms and conditions was agreed by Cabinet in order to minimise the impact of reductions to front line services and at the same time achieve the savings needed.

Unfortunately, our schools do not have the discretion not to implement the changes as this would leave the Council vulnerable to equal pay claims.

In terms of communications with schools: • Letters have been sent out on 5 separate occasions to Heads and Chairs of Governors • 6 briefing sessions have been held for Heads and Chairs of Governors • Letters have been sent to individual staff on 3 separate occasions • 12 briefing sessions have been held for non teaching school staff

This process has taken several months involving difficult negotiations with trades unions and staff. The information has inevitably changed over this period as consultation has progressed and concessions have been made. For example, an exception is now being made for the way term time only calculations are undertaken for schools based staff.

In response to requests from schools to have more time to manage the procurement of school meals we have given all schools in the current Croydon contract the opportunity to extend their arrangement with Eden for one further year, on similar terms to those agreed for previous years.

We appreciate that in the current financial climate, schools are having to deal with a higher level of financial challenge than in recent years, although it should be noted that in this time of difficult government spending decisions schools’ budgets have been largely protected. We are seeking to provide schools with accurate information as it becomes available. We endeavour to give prior notice before processing deductions. We appreciate that it is important for schools to plan and monitor expenditure against budgets.

CQ254 - 11 from Councillor Carole Bonner

CYPL

Will the Cabinet Member outline the plans for the Youth 'Hub' that includes Fieldway and New Addington including the precise geographic area it will cover? Will he further advise how he envisages the New Addington Youth Strategy Group forming the basis of the commissioning group for any funding bids and does he recognise that this may not be the appropriate group for this purpose. In this regard has he held discussions with the Chair of that group to explore the remit and options for the proposed expanded role it will be expected to fulfil and what if any agreements have been reached as a result of those discussions?

Goldcrest Youth Centre will act as the Youth Hub for the locality which includes the areas of New Addington and Fieldway. The centre is currently operating as a Youth Centre, running regular sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and is used at other times by a variety of projects. The vision for it as a new Youth Hub will see it open more often, including day times, offering a wider range of services and activities and engaging with a greater number of young people. However, whilst the Youth Hub might be a physical focus for youth support and activity in a locality, it will be far from the only location that activities will be provided. Staff based at the Youth Hub will be responsible for ensuring a diverse local youth offer is delivered across the locality.

To achieve this vision we are currently undertaking a restructuring of the Croydon’s Integrated Youth Support Service workforce. Whilst this process is well under way, it will not be complete until July. Whilst this is on-going we are putting in transition arrangements that will begin to develop the Youth Hub, the local youth offer, and support young people, voluntary partners and others to get involved.

The transition arrangements include – • Allocating a Connexions Personal Adviser to the locality, who will be based at Goldcrest Youth Centre, to support young people who are not in education, employment or training. • Developing an Area Youth Forum, that will also act as a Management Committee for the Youth Hub and will be involved in participatory budgeting. • Identifying satellite provision across the six strands that would meets the needs of the local youth population and can be delivered at the Youth Hub. • Working with partners to explore how they would like to be involved in the local youth offer and the youth hub. • Working with the management committee at Timebridge Youth Centre to support them over the next six months to explore opportunities for new funding streams.

Whilst we are keen to get things moving as quickly as possible, we are very clear that the transition to the new arrangements needs to be as smooth as possible to ensure young people can still get the support they need and involved in activities that they want.

CQ255 - 11 from Councillor George Ayres

CYPL

Can the Cabinet member advise the Council's current view as to the creation of a Free School in New Addington to replace the existing Community School of Addington High?

The replacement of Addington High School with a free school was included as part of the Council’s draft secondary education strategy in October 2010. These strategies are currently being revisited by officers in the light of emerging education policy and a better understanding of the available level of capital. A paper setting out the next steps in terms of the Education Estates Strategy will come to Cabinet in July. However, it is unlikely that the Council will, at that stage, propose to replace Addington High with a free school.

CQ256 - 11 from Councillor Kathy Bee

CYPL

Please provide a breakdown by ward and by gender of secondary school applications showing the percentage got a place at their 1st to 6th choice of school.

The data requested is not readily available in the format requested. However, a request for this data has also been made via the Scrutiny Committee. We will ensure that admissions data broken down by area is made available to a future meeting of Scrutiny and also sent directly to Councillor Bee.

CQ257 - 11 from Councillor Kathy Bee

CYPL

What is the impact of the new pupil premium on Croydon schools? Which schools benefit and receive additional income. Which schools have had a decrease in income?

All schools will benefit for each child eligible for Free School Meals between four and 15 as recorded on the April 2011 local authority census return. In addition there will be additional funding for looked after children. In both cases the rate is £430 per child per year. All schools will therefore benefit from extra funding which will total over £4.3million for Croydon schools. Across all schools this will broadly offset the reduction in the main school grant (Dedicated Schools Grant) that schools receive.

CQ274 - 11 from Councillor Raj Rajendran

CYPL

Please supply the details related to Looked After Children (LAC) in the financial year 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11 as mentioned below. How many LAC were identified in each financial year, of which how many of them were Unaccompanied Minors? How much money received as grant from Her Majesty’s Government and how much money spent in those financial years?

Table 1 sets out the total numbers of looked after children at the end of each financial year. Table 1 Financial Year Total numbers of Indigenous UASC Croydon LAC at the end of each financial year 2008/09 1071 386 685 2009/10 1008 434 574 2010/11 845 402 443

Table 2 sets out the expenditure on Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) for 08/09 and 09/10 and the forecasted expenditure for 10/11. It also details the income received from the UK Border Agency (UKBA) for these years (forecasted for 10/11). Table 2 Financial Year Expenditure (k) UKBA Funding (k) 2008/09 £27,965 £27,965 2009/10 £27,883 £27,454 2010/11 £22,861 £22,032

Table 3 sets out the expenditure on UASC for 08/09 and 09/10 and the forecasted expenditure for 10/11 for those young people that are not funded through the claim. These are young asylum seekers who were accompanied, for a short period, when they entered the country. Table 3 Financial Year Expenditure (k) 2008/09 £197 2009/10 £274 2010/11 £202

Table 4 details the expenditure on families with no recourse to public funds within CYPL. These are Children in Need rather than Children Looked After. Table 4 Financial Year Expenditure (k) 2008/09 £123 2009/10 £346 2010/11 £498

The forecasted expenditure for young people with no recourse to public funds (18-21 year olds, who have no leave to remain) in 10/11 is £1.3m. This will not account for all no recourse expenditure for this group as there is a delay between the date the young person became no recourse the Council being notified.

CQ275 - 11 from Councillor Raj Rajendran

CYPL

Would the Cabinet Member provide an update on Council’s policy on Virtual School in the future and where the school is currently based?

The Virtual School incorporates both the Looked After Children in Education (LACE) team and a Virtual School Manager. It has improved the quality of support to Looked After Children over the last year and is developing systems to improve practices further. It has recently been repositioned under the School Improvement Service where the focus on improving educational outcomes, sharing good practice and focus on making progress can be strengthened. Currently the LACE team is based in Purley Oaks Primary School but will move shortly to Archbishop Lanfranc High School. Over the coming months there will be a further review of the structure and systems within the Virtual School to ensure it is best placed to deliver the highest quality support during the next academic year.

CQ276 - 11 from Councillor Raj Rajendran

CYPL

How many Looked After Children (LAC) are being identified on Key Stage 1 – 5 and how many LAC are educated outside the Borough in the financial year 2010/11?

The numbers of Looked After Children 2010-11 were as follows:

Total LAC aged 0- Of which Total LAC Of which number 17 in KS 1-5 in recorded as academic year educated out of 2010-11 borough As of 4 April 2011 840 751 303

CQ277 - 11 from Councillor Shafi Khan

CYPL

Would the Cabinet member (CYPL) tell us how many school children failed this year, (beginning September 2010), to get a school place of their first preference (both primary and secondary separately)? What percentage of parents have indicated that they would like to appeal for a place of their first choice?

60% of parents who applied on time received an offer at their first choice of secondary school for September 2011. 76% of parents who applied on time will receive an offer of their first choice of primary school for September 2011. It is too early to say how many parents will appeal. There isn’t a deadline by which parents must lodge an appeal, although all secondary school appeals should have been heard by 6 July, but the primary appeals often run later than this. We will have a firmer idea of the overall level of appeals in June and be able to give firm figures about the total number in September.

CQ281 - 11 from Councillor Bernadette Khan

CYPL

Could the cabinet member for children’s services please assure me that the withdrawing of our social worker team for children and families at Mayday University hospital has not compromised the well-being of children at risk in Croydon and indeed our roles and responsibilities as corporate parent?

The decision to withdraw the social work team from Mayday hospital was made to improve safeguarding practice by creating one single ‘front door’ for all referrals for vulnerable children requiring a social work service. This is required to create a consistent response to all referrals overseen by an intake team manager.

The following measures have been agreed in liaison with representatives from the Senior Management clinical team from the hospital:

1. A named team leader to provide ongoing liaison with staff at Mayday hospital. 2. A designated duty social worker each day who will respond to urgent referrals from the Mayday hospital. A rota will be provided to the hospital. 3. When necessary, the named team leader and designated social worker will attend the hospital for discharge and strategy meetings. 4. A children’s social care representative attends meetings including: a. weekly hospital meetings b. maternity liaison meetings c. perinatal meetings d. Maple clinic liaison meetings e. HIV/GUM meetings. 5. A designated social worker to undertake assessments of families where there is a diagnosis of HIV and where there may be children in, or children in need of, protection present within the family. There will be a review of all arrangements in July 2011.

In relation to children in care, there are dedicated children in care social work teams therefore, the decision to withdraw the social work team from Mayday hospital will not impact on the service provided to children in care. There are already established procedures to ensure that the health needs of children in care are addressed through primary and specialist health services.

I hope this response provides some reassurance that the decisions in respect of the Mayday social work team will support improvements in the service delivery for vulnerable children accessing services within Mayday hospital. The new arrangements are consistent with good practice in other areas.

CQ282 - 11 from Councillor Manju Shahul Hameed

CYPL

Can the Cabinet member give me the numbers and percentage of the children who didn’t get their first and also none of their preferred choices in their secondary school places in Croydon? Can you also give me the same information for the past five years?

2424 children who applied on time received an offer at their first choice of secondary school for September 2011, which represents 60% of Croydon applicants. This has increased each year for the past four years. In 2010 the figure was 58%. In 2009, 56% of parents received a place at their first choice school, and in 2008 the comparable figure was 55%.

337 children (8%) have been offered a place at a school which they had not requested. This is an improvement on the 351 children (9%) who were in this category in the previous year. Additional comparisons with earlier years are not readily available due to a change in methodology in the way data was organised.

CQ283 - 11 from Councillor Manju Shahul Hameed

CYPL

When I raised the issue of the cuts in Croydon Literacy centre in the last Cabinet meeting, the chair didn’t let me complete my questions and you didn’t want to respond. Within a week of that meeting, I understand that you made a decision to continue the funding for this centre until July 2011. Can the Cabinet member let me know what will happen to the staff and the centre after July? How much funding is required to continue to keep the centre open after July?

In March Cabinet considered a paper on the admissions criteria for Croydon schools from September 2012, which you used as a pretext to ask questions on literacy support in 2011. In spite of the apparent irrelevance of your line of questioning, the chair allowed your question and I answered it fully. However, you were not allowed a supplementary as it did not relate to the paper under consideration.

It is proposed that the service provided by the Literacy Centre will continue after July, but in a modified form. The Council is currently working with the service to consider a range of models, for example, including a change in travel arrangements with children receiving their support either in school or at hub-schools. These options will reduce travel distance and time for pupils which will mean that pupils spend more time learning and that there is a more efficient and sustainable model for the service.

CQ284 - 11 from Councillor Manju Shahul Hameed

CYPL

After the removal of the headteachers from Spring Park, Oval and Applegarth Schools, how many more are you planning to sack? Who is involved in the decision making to remove the headteachers?

The local authority is very supportive of its Headteachers in all schools and none of the Headteachers of these three schools were sacked. Headteachers can come to an agreement with the local authority, following discussions with the Chair of Governors or governing body, to move on, in circumstances where the school is underperforming.

Each case is evaluated on its merits. The local authority supports substantative Headteachers to improve schools and, where necessary, to bring them out of OfSTED categories, where it judges them to have the capacity to do so. In such cases support is provided from the local authority and other Headteachers or schools.

CQ285 - 11 from Councillor John Wentworth

CYPL

What percentage of parents were offered their first choice of secondary school for the September 2011 transfer?

60% of parents who applied on time received an offer at their first choice of secondary school for September 2011.

CQ286 - 11 from Councillor John Wentworth

CYPL

What progress has been made in identifying a site to accommodate additional secondary school places in the north of the borough?

CQ295 - 11 from Councillor Sean Fitzsimons

CYPL

Please can you list the last 2 Ofsted Inspection grades for all primary, junior and infant schools in Croydon.

Overall Effectiveness Overall Effectiveness Croydon Primary Schools 2010-2011 Ofsted Ofsted (1st April 2011) Grade Grade Date Date All Saints Infant 12/01/2011 4 08/10/2007 3 All Saints CofE Junior 12/01/2011 4 08/10/2007 3 Applegarth Infant & Nursery 22/09/2009 3 06/12/2006 2 Applegarth Junior 29/09/2010 4 30/06/2008 3 Atwood Primary 03/12/2008 1 22/11/2004 3 Beaumont Primary 22/11/2007 2 02/12/2002 Effective Benson Primary 12/11/2009 3 12/12/2006 2 Beulah Infant & Nursery 13/05/2008 2 29/09/2003 3 Beulah Junior 19/05/2010 3 26/06/2007 2 Broadmead Infant (closed from 31/8/10) 01/05/2008 3 Broadmead Junior (closed from 31/8/10) 01/10/2008 3 Broadmead Primary (amalgamation from 1/9/10) Byron Primary 03/10/2007 3 09/12/2002 Effective Castle Hill Primary 19/05/2009 3 24/09/2008 4 Chipstead Valley Primary 12/09/2007 2 01/10/2001 Effective Christ Church CofE Primary (Purley) 08/09/2008 3 11/10/2005 2 Coulsdon CofE Primary 21/05/2007 2 01/07/2002 Good Courtwood Primary 08/07/2008 2 26/01/2004 3 Cypress Infant 28/01/2010 1 22/01/2007 2 Cypress Junior 13/10/2010 3 04/03/2008 3 David Livingstone Primary 01/12/2008 3 28/09/2007 4 Davidson Primary 30/11/2009 3 07/11/2006 3 Downsview Primary 24/11/2010 2 25/06/2008 2 Duppas Junior (closed from 31/8/10) 04/03/2010 4 Ecclesbourne Primary (amalgamation from

1/9/09) Ecclesbourne Infant (closed 31/8/09) 25/11/2008 4 Ecclesbourne Junior (closed 31/8/09) 25/11/2008 3 Elmwood Infant 23/03/2010 2 13/02/2007 3 Elmwood Junior 09/10/2008 2 04/10/2005 1 Fairchildes Primary 01/07/2008 2 04/05/2004 2 Forestdale Primary 19/06/2008 2 10/11/2003 3 Gilbert Scott Primary (amalgamation from 06/02/2009 1/9/07) 3 Gonville Primary 21/11/2008 1 09/11/2005 2 Good Shepherd RC Primary 23/06/2010 3 30/03/2009 4 Greenvale Primary 22/05/2007 1 08/10/2001 Good Gresham Primary 22/06/2009 2 19/10/2005 2 Heavers Farm Primary 11/06/2009 3 10/07/2006 3

Overall Effectiveness Overall Effectiveness Croydon Primary Schools 2010-2011 Ofsted Ofsted (1st April 2011) Grade Grade Date Date Howard Primary 07/06/2007 2 11/02/2003 Effective Kenley Primary 18/05/2009 2 02/05/2006 3 Kensington Avenue Primary 15/07/2010 2 25/04/2007 3 Keston Primary (amalgamation from 1/9/2004) 11/01/2006 1 Kingsley Primary 25/02/2010 3 28/02/2007 3 Margaret Roper Catholic Primary 18/06/2009 2 11/10/2005 2 Monks Orchard Primary 08/07/2009 2 02/05/2006 2 Norbury Manor Primary 01/02/2011 3 03/12/2009 4 Orchard Way Primary 25/01/2010 3 12/03/2007 2 Oval Primary 24/11/2010 4 03/03/2008 3 Parish Church CofE Infant & Nursery 07/05/2008 1 01/12/2003 2 Parish Church CofE Junior 05/05/2010 1 22/03/2007 2 Park Hill Infant 12/05/2010 1 02/07/2007 2 Park Hill Junior 12/07/2010 3 02/07/2007 2 Purley Oaks Primary 26/05/2010 3 30/04/2007 3 Regina Coeli Catholic Primary 15/10/2009 3 15/11/2006 2 Ridgeway Primary 05/10/2010 1 20/06/2008 3 Rockmount Primary 26/05/2010 2 02/07/2007 2 Roke Primary 03/03/2009 1 30/11/2005 1 Rowdown Primary 28/06/2010 4 20/03/2007 3 Ryelands Primary 28/04/2009 2 17/11/2005 2 Selsdon Primary 03/03/2011 3 15/11/2007 3 Smitham Primary 08/09/2008 3 01/03/2004 3 South Norwood Primary 19/01/2011 3 24/06/2008 3 Spring Park Primary 28/01/2009 3 01/11/2007 4 St Aidan's Catholic Primary 25/11/2009 2 12/09/2006 3 St Chad's Catholic Primary 24/06/2009 2 15/11/2005 3 St Cyprian's Greek Orthodox Primary 06/07/2010 2 19/06/2007 3 St James the Great RC Primary 02/07/2008 2 10/11/2003 2 St John's CofE Primary 04/10/2010 2 11/12/2007 3 St Joseph's RC Infant 10/02/2011 2 05/02/2008 3 St Joseph's RC Junior 23/01/2008 2 06/05/2003 Effective St Mark's CofE Primary 12/02/2008 3 29/09/2003 4 St Mary's Catholic Infant 11/12/2007 1 10/03/2003 Good St Mary's RC Junior 08/09/2008 2 04/05/2004 4 St Peter's Primary 15/05/2008 2 02/12/2003 2 St Thomas Becket Catholic Primary 12/09/2007 1 22/09/2003 3 The Aerodrome Primary (new school 1/9/10) The Hayes Primary 24/03/2009 2 28/11/2005 2 The Wattenden Primary 07/10/2009 2 15/03/2007 2 Waddon Infant (closed from 31/8/10) 01/01/2009 2 West Thornton Primary 01/11/2007 2 07/07/2003 Very Good Whitehorse Manor Infant 08/03/2007 1 15/10/2001 Very Good Whitehorse Manor Junior 11/05/2009 1 07/06/2006 2 Winterbourne Infant & Nursery 08/12/2008 2 18/10/2006 3 Winterbourne Junior Boys 08/10/2009 3 27/11/2006 3 Winterbourne Junior Girls 30/09/2010 3 04/06/2008 3 Wolsey Infant 15/05/2009 1 12/06/2006 1 Wolsey Junior 13/10/2010 3 10/10/2007 3 Woodcote Primary (amalgamation from 1/9/08) 08/03/2010 2 Woodside Children's Centre & Infant 15/09/2008 2 19/10/2005 3

Overall Effectiveness Overall Effectiveness Croydon Primary Schools 2010-2011 Ofsted Ofsted (1st April 2011) Grade Grade Date Date Woodside Junior 09/03/2010 2 24/01/2007 3

Current Ofsted grades Previous Ofsted grades 1 (Outstanding) 15 schools 1 (Outstanding) 5 schools 2 (Good) 34 schools 2 (Good) 28 schools 3 (Satisfactory) 26 schools 3 (Satisfactory) 41 schools 4 (Inadequate) 5 schools 4 (Inadequate) 9 schools